A day after India announced a raft of measures against Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, leaders across party lines pledged unconditional support to the government in whatever actions it may take against the perpetrators of the attack and their handlers. At the same time, several Opposition leaders questioned the government, saying the attack pointed to “lapses” in security and intelligence. At an all-party meeting Thursday, the government shared its assessment of the emerging situation with leaders of political parties to forge a broad domestic political consensus on the matter. Several Opposition leaders flagged the issue of “lapses” in security and intelligence and questioned the government over the absence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the meeting. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar – all members of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) which decided the retaliatory steps against Pakistan – attended the meeting and briefed the leaders. Several leaders, including Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, his Lok Sabha counterpart Rahul Gandhi, TMC’s Sudip Bandyopadhyay and AAP’s Sanjay Singh spoke about lapses in security and intelligence. “It was important that the Prime Minister attend such a meeting because the decisions he takes are final… and are of importance…they (the ministers) said they will brief him. I said briefing him is one thing and he himself listening to our views and taking a decision is another,” Kharge said after the meeting. “We also raised the issue of security lapses. How can such a lapse happen when a three-tier security was in place? Rahul Gandhi asked how can 1000-odd people go there and the police do not have any knowledge,” he said. Kharge told the meeting that the incident was a “glaring mistake on the intelligence front and a security failure” and the government did not take “quick action”. According to him, an official present at the meeting admitted to a lapse and said despite their best efforts, the incident happened. AAP’s Sanjay Singh told The Indian Express: “The government told us that this spot (the attack site) used to open during the Amarnath Yatra and security would be tightened at that time. But it was opened on April 20 this time and the security agencies were not informed about it. The place had been active without security since April 20. The Opposition pointed out that it was a huge security lapse.” NCP (SP)’s Supriya Sule said even tour operators in Pune were aware that the place had been opened for tourists. On the consensus, Kharge said, “Everybody, in one voice, said we will support the actions which will be taken by the government in the interest of the country… that we are together on this issue and we will fully support the government and cooperate with it so that a message goes out to the people of the country and outside that the country is united,” he said. Gandhi said, “We uniformly condemned what happened and the Opposition has given complete support to the government in whatever actions it may take.” Speaking to reporters, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said Rajnath Singh briefed the meeting on the decisions taken by the CCS. Singh, he said, reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism and conveyed to the leaders the government’s intention to “take more strong actions”. Rijiju said officials from the Intelligence Bureau and Home Ministry briefed the meeting. “How the incident happened… the site where the incident happened is not on the main road… all the parties were told that sub kuch achha chalte huay bhi yeh ghatna ek chook hai… everybody is saddened… what all steps have been taken to ensure that such an incident does not happen again.” From the government side, apart from the CCS members – Shah visited the terror site near Pahalgam the day after the attack – Rijiju and Health Minister and BJP president J P Nadda were present. Apart from Kharge and Gandhi of the Congress, floor leaders of various parties were present at the meeting. They included SP’s Ramgopal Yadav, TMC’s Sudip Bandyopadhyay, DMK’s Tiruchi Siva, AAP’s Sanjay Singh, BJD’s Sasmit Patra, RJD’s Prem Chand Gupta, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, and NCP (SP)’s Supriya Sule. NDA allies Shiv Sena and TDP were also present, represented by Shrikant Shinde and Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, respectively. It was a signal that the government was keen that the political class speak in one voice as it plans the next retaliatory steps. AAP’s Sanjay Singh said the leaders told the government to go after the terrorists and act against Pakistan which has been sponsoring them. AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi demanded strong action against Pakistan and cited the resolution 1373 of the United Nations Security Council which obligates all UN member states to take action to combat terrorism, including criminalising financing, freezing assets of terrorists, and cooperating in investigations. He said Pakistan had been violating this resolution for a long time. He also cited Article 51 of the UN Charter which allows a country the right to self-defence if it is attacked and asked the government to “use that”. Owaisi said the “false propaganda” against Kashmiris, including students, in social media should stop. “Muslims have nothing to do with it (the attack) and will never be. We agree that these terrorists killed someone after asking their religion. It is condemnable, I don’t have words. But in response to that, if you do this (harassment), then we will be strengthening the hands of the terrorists,” he said. IUML leader Haris Beeran asked for Parliament to be convened for two days to discuss the attack. He also asked if the shortage of 1,80,000 security personnel due to a drop in recruitment had any impact.
